A new way to grab a surfboard just landed on Waikiki Beach, and it doesn't involve a surf shop counter or a rental form. A contactless rental station called SurfPod has debuted at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, letting surfers unlock a board straight from their phones and head into the water.
The SurfPod was designed by SurfUp, a company whose self-service rental stations already operate at beaches, resorts and campuses in Hawaii and San Diego, according to surfupapp.com. As reported by KHON2, SurfUp partnered with Moniz Family Surf to bring the station to Waikīkī, and the launch coincided with the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa's 50th anniversary. The outlet also tied the debut to Waikīkī's surf heritage.
The system itself works much like the app-based scooter and bike rentals that have become common in cities: users unlock a surfboard directly from their phones, and the station includes built-in lockers for storing belongings while they surf. The same mechanics power SurfUp's existing stations, where the company's app lets riders find a station, check live board availability and pricing, and start a session with a scan — no reservation or paperwork required, per surfupapp.com.
Built for Both Beginners and Seasoned Surfers
SurfUp founder and CEO Chris Hissom said the company aims to offer both experienced and aspiring surfers a new way to rent, per KHON2's report. The Waikīkī station is pitched as an alternative board-rental option for experienced surfers, while also offering access to surfboards before traditional surf shops open for the day.
That accessibility pitch has been part of SurfUp's playbook since its earliest days. The concept developed in an MBA capstone class at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management, and Hissom has said the goal is to inspire more people to try surfing. KHON2's report frames the Waikīkī station the same way, noting SurfUp aims to inspire more beachgoers to try surfing.
How the Rental Mechanics Actually Work
On SurfUp's existing racks, the rental process is built for speed: a user scans a board to start the session, carries it to the water, and returns it to the station when finished. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, a sensor on the rack activates the lock and ends the session automatically once a board is returned. The self-service loop ends when a board is returned to the rack, where a sensor activates the lock and closes the session.
SurfUp's stations are advertised as available around the clock with no staff required, a model the company has been scaling since its San Diego debut. The Union-Tribune reported three active racks in Pacific Beach in December 2022, with pricing set at 20 cents per minute or $12 per hour. SurfUp planned to expand its San Diego coverage and had recently launched its first snowboard rack, SnowUp, in partnership with Elevated Surf Craft.
Not the Only Option on the Beach
Waikīkī surfers already have a long-running alternative in Star Beachboys, which offers surfboard rentals, according to Star Beachboys. That outfit charges $15 for a two-hour rental or $25 for a five-hour half day and also offers stand-up paddleboard rentals along the beach. Renters may compare SurfUp's Waikīkī pricing with that setup.
For now, the SurfPod's arrival adds a new, staff-free option to a stretch of coastline already dense with surf schools and board-rental stands. Its promise is the same one that's powered SurfUp's growth in San Diego: surfing that's easier to try, with no line, no form and no need to wait for a shop to open.
